Quotes of the day

posted at 10:41 pm on October 18, 2012 by Allahpundit

In the hours after the debate, Democrats began making fun of Romney for saying that as governor he had gotten “binders full of women” to find qualified appointees — a comment they would never have criticized, or even noticed, had it been said by one of their own. Almost nobody objects to making a special effort to find qualified women to apply for important positions, and Romney’s phrasing was not even especially awkward. The attempt to manufacture an example of Romney’s condescension or cluelessness is evidence of how much more deeply invested the Obama campaign is in its “war” than in America’s actual wars…

Romney’s best moment in the campaign was the first debate, after which his poll numbers jumped among men and women alike. He made no gender-based appeal in that debate at all. Instead, he concentrated on making the case that he would be a better president than Obama, and in particular that his agenda would be better than Obama’s when it comes to wages, job creation, energy prices, and health care. He should learn from that success — and worry not about the Democrats’ binders full of talking points.

***

[T]he best sign for Romney may have actually been the the Obama campaign’s decision to make the main takeaway Tuesday’s debate Romney’s comment that he received “binders full of women” when he was trying to hire females to top positions as governor of Massachusetts.

It’s hard to see what argument Obama is advancing here, however. The attack isn’t even that Romney didn’t hire enough women as governor. It’s that he had to consult a binder prepared by a women’s group to find more female candidates when he wanted to hire more women. Is the suggestion that if he cared about women more he would have just hired his friends and associates rather than draw from a wider applicant pool?

***

Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Romney loses women on Nov. 6 by 8.5 points — his average deficit in those three polls among registered voters. (His average deficit among likely voters in those same three polls was 7 points.)

That would be a better showing among women than John McCain made in 2008 (lost women by 13), George Bush made in 2000 (lost women by 11) and Bob Dole made in 1996 (lost women by 16). It would be roughly equal to the eight-point margin that George H.W. Bush lost women to Bill Clinton in 1992.

In the last half a dozen years, voters have responded more to events, emerging issues, and leaders’ strengths and weaknesses. Many switched parties to vote for Obama. Some, many of them women, are switching now to vote for Romney.

Women tend to be more risk-averse than men, and the gender gap grew when Reagan Republicans were depicted as scaling back welfare-state protections.

The debates may have shifted the perception of risk. The downcast Obama and the cackling Biden may have sounded dangerously risky. Many women may have felt, as my e-mail friend’s wife said last winter, that they would feel safe if Romney were in charge.

Readers who watched Tuesday’s debate can judge whether that still holds.

***

Most often, when President Reagan wanted to fill a senior administration position, including cabinet and sub-cabinet positions, top agency posts, and judicial positions, we would put together a binder filled with qualified candidates, as well as recommendations, from which the president would select a candidate.

So, I have a question: how, exactly, did and does Obama decide who to appoint to over 3,000 non-career positions in his administration, including his senior positions? How does his Office of Presidential Personnel recruit candidates? How does it process and collate resumes and present options to the president for selecting candidates for top posts? And if President Obama is not presented with a binder of qualified candidates, exactly how does he make his decisions?

Women’s activist Erica Payne argued that Romney sounded like he was looking for women to add to his harem and called the comment “moderately offensive,” though she did admit to agreeing with the concept of the program. Payne said that Romney used the “smoke screen” of the binders to claim that he hired a large number of women during his gubernatorial tenure.

O’Reilly continued saying Payne’s viewpoint was crazy, saying that liberals are being too partisan in going after Romney for a “good thing” he did just because he “used the word ‘binder.’” Murphy said many women’s rights groups are less interested in women’s rights than being “shill groups” for the Democratic party. Payne pushed back against Murphy and said she doesn’t want to be treated like a “second-class citizen.”

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Not a bad start. I presume you will be adding other tracks, bass etc. ? One thing I have always been drawn to is oddness of instrument, i.e. Two string bass, four string guitar and so on. Perhaps you can consider a bit of that moving forward. Keep updating on the progress. The percussion was for time, and to fill out the guitar track?

i dont know i kinda enjoyed it as it was but then again i am an odd ducky lol i like a lot of very different music. everything from the naughty nymphs , and voltaire to Floyd , metallica etc … mediaevil baebes are pretty awesome too

You know, outside of politics, we should regard politicians as human beings with lives and loved ones, right? Basically, decent people trying to serve their constituents and their country, right? Well, I’m sorry but, some people are not deserving of that kind of respect.

Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to name a couple. I think these are the two most odious people ever to serve the country. Perhaps, in the entire history of humanity. Although, DWS and BHO should get dishonorable mentions.

Reid and Pelosi, who says the most despicable things and get away with it. They assume the worst motives of their political opponents. Basically, not just wrong but evil. Absolute and utter contempt for the unwashed masses out there. Corrupt and conniving to the core. Takes every opportunity to politicize an issue. Then accuse their opponents of doing just that.

I know it’s wrong to feel this way but, when these two kick the bucket, I’m not gonna feel sorry for them or their loved ones. I doubt that they have many true personal friends. Outside of their family, I can’t imagine many people that would have anything nice to say about them. They contribute more to the rancid atmosphere of politics than anybody else. I think politics and the country will be much better off when they go.

He’s an educated idiot who gets way too much airtime. He’s an FNC employee yet, the only show I see him on is O’Reilly and Red Eye. This is why I find BO’R so annoying. He insists on having these idiots on his show so he can be ‘Fair & Balanced’.

I know it’s wrong to feel this way but, when these two kick the bucket, I’m not gonna feel sorry for them or their loved ones. I doubt that they have many true personal friends. Outside of their family, I can’t imagine many people that would have anything nice to say about them. They contribute more to the rancid atmosphere of politics than anybody else. I think politics and the country will be much better off when they go.

Asian Con on October 19, 2012 at 12:58 AM

No need for apologies. I feel the same way about Pelosi, Reid, et al. The common person suffers immensely because of their policies. And these cretins don’t give a damn.

I’m getting to the point where I can’t suffer the liberal bs from my family or friends, either.

And I’m also getting to the point where if friendships or familial relationships end over our political differences, so be it.

We’re way past the point where it’s impossible not to take all this personally. This government is a soft tyranny, and may morph into a hard one if things don’t change.

My wife and I, and the children we want to have, have been hurt immensely by this President and the statist ideology.

btw just in case the person in question is lurking here somewhere … i believe someone from HA was so kind enough as to order a 3 pillar set of jasmine candles from me and i shipped them out today ! thank you for the order .

The hallmark of conservatism is that we are the adults that rise above. Just detach and remember we’re selecting a captain of the supertanker, we don’t have to love or hate him or her. Just pilot us in the right direction, please.

We just got my partner moved to his new house, got the roll cage installed, (12 point roll cage), and aluminum racing seats and four sets of racing slicks for it. The Transmission shield is being custom made right now as well as the transmission mounting block. It’s getting damned close… ;)

Indeed, it does. Its almost reminiscent of some tunes from the late 30s’s early 40′s at times in spots, yet still distinctive. Its in the set up for the base line and certain harmonies, I think. It’s hard to pin it down, but I keep thinking that it reminds me of a band or an artist from that era, fleetingly for perhaps a few measures, and then it takes a sharp turn into something else.

Lol! Sorry for the slow response, I got behind. You must mean my better half. Yes she truly is better than I deserve. I would have not faired nearly as well in life had I not had her to share in the effort as a team. She really has made it all work. Plus the pies! Yum!

The hallmark of conservatism is that we are the adults that rise above. Just detach and remember we’re selecting a captain of the supertanker, we don’t have to love or hate him or her. Just pilot us in the right direction, please.

John the Libertarian on October 19, 2012 at 1:07 AM

Quite so, John. And in every political discussion/debate, I try to come at it from a fact-based perspective, and not descend into bitterness and invective. (Primarily because one is simply more effective by arguing that way.) Perhaps “polite” wasn’t the word I was looking for in the last post.

To the extent that libs (even among close acquaintances) want to be d-bags to me, I’m going to push right back. Even if it means hurting some feelings. I won’t go out of my way to personally attack someone, but I will have no problem telling them that their ideology is destroying the country, and that it must be consigned to the ash-heap of history where it belongs.

I’m sure that you’ll agree that one can be forceful and keep one’s basic humanity towards the opposition intact.

I’m thinking the Breitbart mold, here.

But I’m done with apologies or equivocations. For who I am, nor for anything that I believe. (This is part and parcel of my broader goal of ending my lifelong flaw of being a pushover.)

I have come across many folks who find it too dark. I suppose some of it is. Then some is like a frat party sound. Some romantic, but always with that unique common thread. Very distinctive sound. The sax, the two says being played at once, the drummer who can actually keep time while having fun and flair. The lyrics. The sound just strikes a cord with me. Many moods to them.

Extremism!!! The hypocrisy is maddening. I don’t just want to beat them. I WANT TO DESTROY THEM!

Asian Con on October 19, 2012 at 1:12 AM

I do not want to destroy them, they are our fellow citizens. I want them to come to their senses and do what is right for the whole nation, not just their pet special interests.

SWalker on October 19, 2012 at 1:15 AM

Liberals are children. Worse, they are children in their annoying teens. If we are to be the adults, we must tolerate their outbursts, pretend that we understand their angst while ignoring them, because they know not what they do.

No I’m not. Yes I saw it. I try to always be polite when I haven’t had an oppurtunity to familiarize myself with a unknown commenter. I was raised to respond to folks who speak to or at you. Up to a point.

Liberals are children. Worse, they are children in their annoying teens. If we are to be the adults, we must tolerate their outbursts, pretend that we understand their angst while ignoring them, because they know not what they do.

Things were bad during the Bush years but, it’s so much worse now. The shrill cries for civility. Extremism!!! The hypocrisy is maddening. I don’t just want to beat them. I WANT TO DESTROY THEM!

Asian Con on October 19, 2012 at 1:12 AM

I do not want to destroy them, they are our fellow citizens. I want them to come to their senses and do what is right for the whole nation, not just their pet special interests.

SWalker on October 19, 2012 at 1:15 AM

I feel the same way, Asian. Though, John’s cautionary message is important here: We must avoid the temptation to become that which he hate (as goddamned tempting as it is with how dirty the Dems play the game).

SWalker, I want them to come to their senses to. But I think Pelosi, Reid, Obama, and most of today’s Democratic party either have no senses (how could any rational person look at the past four years and say that public policy has been an objective good?)….or worse, they very well do have senses….and those senses point them towards finalizing the all-powerful leviathan central state.

I’m sure that you’ll agree that one can be forceful and keep one’s basic humanity towards the opposition intact.

Hawkins1701 on October 19, 2012 at 1:17 AM

Yes. Absolutely. In Clinton fashion, I feel their pain. In fact, when I’m talking to liberals, I keep reminding them that Hillary would have been far superior to Obama. Wins them over every time. Then I start deconstructing their assumptions of the economy, pretending that Hillary would have done the things Romney wants to do.

SWalker, I want them to come to their senses to. But I think Pelosi, Reid, Obama, and most of today’s Democratic party either have no senses (how could any rational person look at the past four years and say that public policy has been an objective good?)….or worse, they very well do have senses….and those senses point them towards finalizing the all-powerful leviathan central state.

I’m thinking the latter. These people know what they’re doing.

That’s even more frightening.

Hawkins1701 on October 19, 2012 at 1:27 AM

Ahhhh, and there is a distinction point to be made there. The Liberal/Marxist politician should be destroyed, but the regular liberal democrat voters need to be saved. The Reid’s and Pelosi’s, of the political world can not make a justifiable case for ignorance, they damned well know what they are doing. For them, I have no sympathy.

As you know, I share your wide taste in music. I, too, have no patience for rap, a lot of country leaves me cold, particularly the really depressing stuff, and I have a hard time listening to disco.( Okay, to be honest, I’d just as soon get up and leave rather than listen to most disco tunes.) Other than that, I enjoy most forms of music.

Just as we are free to disagree, it seems we are equally free to agree. A most welcome and comfortable circumstance. :)

Idle hands do the work of the devil. Lol! I normally fluctuate about 5 to 10 lbs through the week. If I get down below a certain weight for my height I’ll get checked. Some of it is because I’m not working hard enough. Muscle is always the first to go. Especially when there is no fat. Lol!

No, they do not think, they emote. They rely on emotional feelings rather than critical thinking and logic. Critical thinking and logic have a judgmental aspect to them that they find frightening and offensive. And no, they really do not recognize just how judgmental they themselves are.

I was very tired when that post came my way, and I didn’t wish to joggle your elbow, so to speak, without knowing the circumstances of the communication or relationship, if, indeed, one existed.

I’m afraid if that entity should knock on my door to be rude again, I may not have the tolerance or hospitality you’ve displayed. :)

thatsafactjack on October 19, 2012 at 1:37 AM

Sorry to interrupt, but I read it as an attempt to be jocular and funny with the “Visual” meaning mental image. Most of us here on the OOT joke with each other freely, no offense meant or taken. It struck me as an attempt to “FIT” in… I could be mistaken but that’s what I got out of it.